15 areas under Signal No. 2 as Jolina moves northwestward over Batangas

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was raised over 15 areas on Wednesday as Severe Tropical Storm Jolina (international name: Conson) maintained its strength while moving northwestward over Batangas, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

The areas under TCWS No. 2, where damaging gale-force to storm-force winds are prevailing or expected within 24 hours, are the following:

• Marinduque;
• the northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro (Bansud, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Pola, Socorro, Victoria, Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan);
• the northern and central portions of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, Sablayan);
• Lubang Islands;
• the central and southern portions of Quezon (General Luna, Macalelon, Sampaloc, Unisan, Pagbilao, Sariaya, Alabat, Pitogo, City of Tayabas, Padre Burgos, Lucban, Gumaca, Agdangan, Plaridel, San Antonio, Candelaria, Atimonan, Quezon, Tiaong, Mauban, Perez, Lucena City, Dolores, Real, Infanta);
• Batangas;
• Cavite;
• Laguna;
• Rizal;
• Metro Manila;
• the southern portion of Bulacan (Pandi, Bulacan, Marilao, Calumpit, Norzagaray, Plaridel, Santa Maria, Balagtas, Bocaue, Bustos, City of Malolos, Angat, Obando, City of San Jose del Monte, Pulilan, City of Meycauayan, Hagonoy, Paombong, Guiguinto, San Rafael, Baliuag);
• Pampanga;
• Bataan;
• Zambales; and
• Tarlac.

TCWS No. 1, where strong winds are prevailing or are expected within 36 hours, was raised over the following areas:

• La Union;
• the southern portion of Benguet (Sablan, Tublay, Bokod, La Trinidad, Baguio City, Itogon, Tuba, Kapangan, Atok);
• the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Aritao, Santa Fe, Kayapa);
• the southern portion of Aurora (Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis, Dingalan);
• Pangasinan;
• Nueva Ecija;
• the rest of Bulacan;
• the rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands;
• Camarines Norte;
• the western portion of Camarines Sur (Ragay, Del Gallego, Lupi, Sipocot, Cabusao, Libmanan, Pasacao, Pamplona);
• the western portion of Romblon (Odiongan, Romblon, Banton, Santa Maria, Concepcion, San Andres, San Jose, Looc, Ferrol, Alcantara, San Agustin, Calatrava, Corcuera, Santa Fe);
• the rest of Oriental Mindoro; and
• and the rest of Occidental Mindoro

Jolina made landfall over San Juan, Batangas at 9 a.m., PAGASA said.

Afterwards, the tropical cyclone is expected to cross the Batangas-Cavite area before emerging over the mouth of Manila Bay this Wednesday afternoon or evening.

"This will be followed by another landfall in the vicinity of Bataan Peninsula. Frictional effects during its traverse of mainland Luzon will weaken 'JOLINA' down to tropical storm category," PAGASA said.

The weather bureau further said Jolina is forecast to emerge over the West Philippine Sea Wednesday night or Thursday early morning.

The tropical cyclone is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday evening or Friday early morning.

As of 10 a.m., the center of Severe Tropical Storm Jolina was estimated based on all available data in the vicinity of Rosario, Batangas (13.8°N, 121.3°E).

It has maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 130 km/h, and central pressure of 998 hPa Northwestward 10 km/h.

The severe tropical storm has strong winds or higher extend outwards up to 180 km from its center.

Effects

Twelve fishermen in Catbalogan City were reported missing amid the onslaught of Jolina, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Wednesday.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said search and rescue operations are ongoing for the missing fishers.

Timbal also said 1,987 families or 8,583 people have been evacuated from their homes to stay temporarily at 46 evacuation centers in the Bicol, Western Visayas, and Easter Visayas regions.

Around 543 families are staying in the houses of their relatives and friends.

At least 3,230 passengers were reported stranded in ports in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas, the NDDRMC said.

Classes and flights were canceled due to the bad weather caused by Jolina.

Meanwhile, the Ipo, Ambuklao and Binga dams released water to avoid reaching their respective spilling levels. —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News